It looks like we are set for 3 or 4 days of rain starting tonight. Always good news for California. I’ve been sick with something or other since Thanksgiving. Just when it seems I’m on the mend, something new comes along. This would be a signal if I was of a mind to pay attention, no?

I planted only one golden cauliflower and snapped a picture before plucking it up and sauteing it. Yum! Should have planted much more! The red onions are still growing, despite squirrels digging in the ground and hiding their nuts. Next, the sweet peas were planted for next Spring with a trellis for support. Plans to prune the very old apple tree is on hold until I’m well enough.

It has been a year and a half since my last confession, er, blog post. Looking forward to my 8-year anniversary of surviving ovarian cancer. Life is sweet.

I am so far behind in so many ways. Once Thanksgiving was underway, it has been cooking and cleaning and shopping between regular work hours. Whooee. I’m tired and can’t seem to “do it all” as fast or as well as in previous years. The one piece I have been doing well on is keeping my diet under control. This means not over-eating and watching portions. Getting past Thanksgiving and other holidays without too many sweets and other carbs is a big deal, so “yeah!” me. I’ll be checking in with my doctor soon, so that has been an incentive to do better. I’m expecting good results.

A new CA-125 test is upcoming as well. I’m actually more nervous about my tumor check than at other times of the year as April is surgery anniversary– 4 years!

I’m making plans for my spring garden and want to purchase a raised bed system that looks promising. The squirrels and underground gremlin (gopher?) ate everything in my regular raised beds last year. The new patio bed is off the ground so at least one critter will be foiled.

So much rain and cold this year! Brrr. Summer sounds good about now. TTFN.

Although a bit windy today, it may get up to 70 degrees today and perhaps into the 80’s by the weekend! The weeds in the back are enormous now. A ton of work is needed to clear it all out and plant veggies. I have a few sweet peas (deep purple) and maybe some Scarlett runners (no blossoms yet).

The best spring gift is the arrival of my grandson! Both mom and baby are doing great and I am in love with him already. I can see both my son and daughter-in-law in the baby. He is gaining weight and sleeping more.

January was quite a dry month compared to our December drenching but February is making up for it. We are soaked and sodden now. The weeds are loving it. There is just enough sun between storms to help them grow, well, like weeds.

Since last posted I have purchased a Meyer Lemon, Sweet Lime and my heirloom apple has arrived. It is currently in a large pot since it has been way to wet to dig. I planted some dark red Clematis, placed so it can climb up the rose trellis. First try with this flower so we’ll see. I read that Clematis likes shade on it’s feet and sun on top. My spot should fit that to a tee. No green has emerged yet but with very cold temperatures (for us anyway in sunny California) perhaps waiting will work out best.

What odd weather we have had this year, this spring, this summer, this fall? Everyone has made a comment about there area of the country being too cool, too hot, too rainy, too dry. The tomatoes are not growing or ripening and on and on.

Are we having an unusual weather pattern this year? Are we seeing climate change in action? I did a Google search on the subject to see what would come up. Boy howdy, there was a lot of talk about the weather this year! Of course, gardeners do tend to obsess about the weather, don’t we?

We didn’t (haven’t?) had the very warm weather usually associated with September. This would be the time that we get extremely hot (100 F) for 3-4 days and we worry about fires. No so much this year. The air is already feeling like Fall.

I have pulled most of the tomatoes and planted some sugar snow peas and scarlett runners. I have a few leaves coming out, but it looks like the gopher/ground hog? has eaten most of the seeds. The prospect of digging out my raised beds, adding screen mesh and we building the bed is frustrating. Sigh

I know it isn’t really Fall yet but the weather has a mind of its own. I’ve planted my sugar peas and greens. There are a couple of sprouts now but I fear the ground hog, mole or whatever it is, has eaten many of the seeds. My desperation may lead to digging down about 24″ and placing a metal grid to stop or at least discourage the beastie. The cooler weather may be a good thing!

I went with my daughter-in-law to the first pre-natal class. I felt so honored to be there.

Happily, I will make another year. 2010 has been a much better year than 09. I am still a survivor and been majorly busy at work with web redesign and other big projects. I haven’t yet figured out if I don’t write because I’m boring and have nothing to say or if I’m really depressed and withdrawing from everyone.

I don’t feel depressed so maybe I’m just boring. LOL! I’ve planted some greens and sweet peas. Most of my tomato plants, with the exception of one volunteer plant that is out of control, are either completely eaten by something or spindly and not producing. Changing where they were planted from last year didn’t seem to help. Something as eaten my only two pumpkins as well. It could have been the dog.

The oregano grew like crazy. When it grew to about 20 inches I cut them all and hung them to dry. I was surprised at how fast they were ready to put in a spice jar. I also had a little bit of French tarragon that I dried too. The smell is just divine. I will certainly try other herbs in the future.

The weather these days feel like Fall already. I miss the rain, one because it means I don’t have to water and clears the air and two, it is so much easier to pull weeds.

I visited a fairly new seed store in Petaluma (CA). It is a secondary store to Baker Creek Seeds in Missouri. The store is in a 1920-30’s former bank building. Really cute and spacious. Helpful people. I will go again in time to buy new Spring seeds.

Off to see my oldest son on Saturday but first a birthday dinner with the other two boys and daughter-in-law. And the best news I’ve had in a long time, I’m to be a grandmother! I am so over the top about it. My DIL sent a text message with a photo of the baby at 9 weeks. Can’t tell the sex yet. I do hope everything goes well. Looks like April due date.

Thanks for checking back and I will try to write on a regular basis again.